Date and venue confirmed for Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia
- Joe Hewlett
- 13 May 2021
"They have the opportunity to hold it indoors but they want to create something that will shock the world. They want to build a stadium just for this fight."
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will meet in a specially-created stadium in Saudi Arabia with the fight date finalised.
Eddie Hearn has revealed the pair, who are set to collide for all four major heavyweight world titles, will fight in a new venue currently being built.
"They want to build a new stadium," Hearn told Sky Sports about the hosts in Saudi Arabia. They have indoor options.
"In August at 11pm it will be about 23 degrees.
"They want to create something very, very special. Last time they built a stadium for the Andy Ruiz Jr fight in just seven weeks and it held 18,000.
"They have the opportunity to hold it indoors but they want to create something that will shock the world. They want to build a stadium just for this fight.
"August 14 will be the fight date, which is good news for Joshua with his trainer and manager Rob McCracken available.
There were initial worries about McCracken being unable to attend due to Team GB commitments at the Olympics but they conclude on August 7.
An announcement is expected this weekend as long as Fury, Bob Arum and Frank Warren receive the financial details.
The only reason for the delay in paperwork is because of the religious celebration of Eid in Saudi Arabia, according to Hearn.
"It's a very bad secret that the fight is happening in Saudi Arabia," Hearn said earlier this week. "I don't mind giving that information, Bob Arum's already done it.
"It's the same people we did the deal with for Andy Ruiz, that event was spectacular. As partners, they were fantastic as well, so we're very comfortable.
"We're very comfortable. Anthony's comfortable, he knows those people. They delivered on every one of their promises last time, we're ready to go.
"In terms of a global spectacle, it would make sense to go on the 14th.
"That's one of the other things to tick off, hopefully, in the next few days," Hearn added.
Joshua currently holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles and is currently in his second reign as unified world champion.
Since avenging his Ruiz defeat, AJ returned to the ring in December and knocked out Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev.
Fury, meanwhile, has not fought since his dominant seventh-round victory over Deontay Wilder at the MGM Grand in February 2020.
Hearn believes fans will see an animated Joshua in the build-up of Britain's biggest fight in boxing history.
"He's excited because he's never really, apart from the Dillian Whyte fight, been in a trash-talk environment.
"He will enjoy it.
"AJ has got the bit between his teeth, goading him a bit.
"I'm sure these two DM each other, goading each other. I get DMs from Fury - sometimes pleasant, sometimes unpleasant!
"When the announcement comes and the press conferences start, the pleasantries will go away and it will become personal.
"It doesn't matter who respects who. Both sides are desperate to win because this is everything.
"There are no fun and games. It's 'them and us'.
"AJ will go to war with Fury. He has plans to absolutely demolish him. That's what I believe he will do.
"In the meantime we will go through the build-up, which will be a lot of fun, before the biggest event of 2021."
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